Accessibility Links

David Frost favourite to host Britain’s first TV election debate

Suzy Jagger, Politics and Business Correspondent

September 2 2009, 1:00am, The Times

Prospects for Britain’s first prime ministerial television debate have moved closer after a series of meetings involving the three main political parties this summer, with Sir David Frost emerging as a possible host.

Advisers to the three parties have touted Sir David, one of the best-known political broadcasters on both sides of the Atlantic, having interviewed Richard Nixon in 1977 over the Watergate scandal, because they believe that he would be an unbiased chairman.

It would be the first time that the leaders of the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats argued their policies together on live television before a general election.

While these debates are regular features of American and Australian elections, they have never happened in Britain because of squabbles over…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.